C()]NFES81()WS 


GEO.P.BEALE  AND  GEO. BAKER 


r  T.  Ai,  ()|^F.-(W    ;\[^vA^'    i;     ,.,,., 


MlUDKli  OF  !)ANIEL  DELANEY.  SKX 


TIFR  9th   \>A\  \M   .\l.'^.    iMi.V 


-\LRM.  OREOOX 


CONFESSIONS 


GEO.  P.  BEALE  AND  GEO.  BAKER 


HUSG    AT 


SALEM,  OREGON,  MAY  17,  1865, 


FOR   THE 


MURDER  OF  DANIEL  DELANEY,  SEK, 


THE  9th  day  of  JANUARY,  1865. 


SALEM,  OREGON : 

ORKGON    STATESMAN    POWER    PRESS. 

1865. 


COX^'ESSlOK 

OF 

GEORGE  P.  BEALE 


Al.KDut  the  1st  of  January,  1865,  Baker  came  iato  my  saloon. 
t  spoke  something  about  Delaiiey's  money  :  said,  as  near  as  I  can 
recollect,  that  old  man  Delaney  had  a  large  sura  of  money,  and 
It  was  doing  no  one  any  good  ;  and  t  also  said  that  the  old  man 
■•'."•ht  to  divide  his  money  with  his  boys.  I  think  I  said,  it  was 
that  some  one  did  not  rob  the  old  man,  as  the  country 
was  full  of  robbers.  Then  something  was  said  about  what  an 
easy  matter  it  would  be  to  rob  the  old  man  of  his  money — by 
myself  or  Baker  ;  I  do  not  recollect  which.  1  said  that  1  thouglit 
I  knew  where  the  money  was.  Then  Baker  proposed  to  go  and 
ret  the  old  man  out,  catch  and  tie  him.  and  take  what  money  wc 
wanted,  but  leave  the  old  man  plenty  to  live  on,  even  the  largest 
I)ortion.  Considerable  talk  of  that  kind  passed  between  us  ;  clo 
not  recollect  everything  that  passed  between  us  on  the  siibject 
•at  that  time. 

On  the  Thursday  Ijcfore  this  ti-ansaction  (the  murder)  I  went 
out  to  my  farm,  but  came* to  town  the  next  day.  Adklns  liad 
Bome  horses  which  he  wanted  to  send  out  to  iVlr.  Taylor's  pas^ 
tore.  I  told  him  that  I  wouhl  take  them  out.  which  I  did  tlic 
next  Sunday. 

Mr.  Pearce  MaliafTcy  started  from  town  on  Suwday  morning 
with  me  :  went  as  far  as  the  upper  bridge  on  Mill  credv ;  there 
lite  horse  mired  and  lamed  one  legi     He  had  to  return  to  towii. 


»  CONFESSION  OF  BEALE. 

I  left  William  Taylor's  house  on  Monday,  a  few  minutea  before 
eleven  o'clock  ;  went  by  Stipp's  j  close  by  Olinger's,  leaving  him 
on  the  right ;  went  close  to  Rector's,  leaving  him  on  the  rio-ht  • 
came  in  the  road  close  to  a  white  house  that  stands  close  by  the 
bridge. 

I  will  here  speak  of  young  Witzel :  It  is  painful  to  me  to  say 
that  that  young  man  either  saw  some  one  else  or  swore  a  false- 
hood.' 

About  the  time  I  got  to  the  road,  I  saw  two  men  close  to  the 
mill-dam,  one  on  horseback,  and  the  other,  standing  by  a  horse 
shooting  toward  the  creek.    I  walked  down  the  creek,  to  see  if 
I  could  get  across  the  slough  to  the  bridge,  and  the  men  went 
toward  town.     As  I  <;ame  back,  I  saw  Baker  coming.     Baker 
and  myself  w^ent  up  the  creek,  and  close  by  it,  going  to  Herren's 
bridge.    I  was  afoot,  and  Baker  on  horseback.     Baker  went  to 
the  bridge  and  found  it  was  gone,  when  he  returned,  met  n^-?. 
and  informed  me  of  the  same.     We  then  went  back  to  Rector's 
bridge.     I  pulled  off  my  boot?  and  waded  the  slough.     We  then 
went  through  Dan'l  Clark's  pasture,  1  wading  another  slough  ; 
passed  by  Clark's  house  and  out  at  the  far  side  of  his  pasture, 
next  to  Raymond's  ;  went  to  the  left  on  a  ridge  in  the  timber  ; 
stopped  here  and  ate  a  bit  of  dinner  that  Baker  had  in  his  pock- 
ot ;  went  directly  through  the  timber  to  the  Eyres  place  ;  went 
down  a  hollow,  crossed  through  fir  timber  to  where  the  hoi-se 
was  hitched.     This  was  about  six  o'clock  in  the  evening.     We 
passed  olong  the  fence  toward  the  house  until  we  came  to  a  hole 
of  water.     There  we  got  some  black. bark  from  a  fir  tree,  and 
blacked  our  faces  ;  from  there  went  to  the  house,  as  described  by 
witnesses.     Before  leaving  the  liorse,  Baker  and  I  both  drank 
some  spirits  from  a  bottle  that  Baker  had  brought  with  him. 
Baker  had  been  drinking  very  freely  before  that,  and  was  nearly 
drunk.     Oh !  would  to  God  that  I  had  died  there,  as  I  expressed 
a  wi^^li  at  the  time.     I  will  say  that  the  deatli  of  old  man  Dela^ 


CONFESSION  OF  BE  ALE.  5 

ney  was  unintentional  and  accidental.  We  reached  the  gate. 
Baker  on  the  inside  and  I  on  the  outside.  The  intention  was  to 
call  the  old  man  out,  catch  and  tic  him,  and  then  get  the  money* 
I  called  him  out.  Baker  was  to  catch  him,  and  then  I  was  to 
assist  in  tying  him.  Baker  had  set  his  gun  by  the  fence.  When 
the  old  man  came  out,  he  had  a  knife  in  his  hand.  Baker,  see- 
ing it,  started  to  run  toward  his  gun.  As  he  ran,  I  thought  it 
was  his  intention  to  shoot,  and  hallooed  to  him  to  not  shoot ; 
but  he,  misunderstanding  mo,  thought  I  said  "  shoot,"  instead  of 
"  not  shoot."  I  hallooed  to  him  three  times  to  not  shoot,  but  ho 
said  he  thought  I  said  "  shoot "  every  time.  The  first  shot  struck 
him  in  the  left  breast,  and  he  fell  on  his  hands  and  knees.  Ba- 
ker then  shot  at  the  dog.  I  tliink  a  scattering  shot  from  the 
charge  intended  for  the  dog  struck  the  old  man  in  the  head.  I 
van  and  caught  tlie  old  man,Vnd  asked  him  if  he  would  have 
some  water,  but  he  did  not  speak.  He  died  almost  instantly.  I 
then  drew  my  pistol  and  told  Baker  his  time  had  come,  for  I  in- 
tended to  kill  him  then  and  there.  He  asked  me  why  I  told 
him  to  shoot  then.  I  saw  his  mistake,  and  told  him  better.  He 
fell  upon  his  knees  and  cried  like  a  child. 

I  laid  the  old  man  straight,  and  crossed  his  hands.  By  this 
time  the  little  boy  unlocked  the  door,  which  the  old  man  had" 
locked  when  he  came  out,  Ad  went  into  the  house,  taking  the 
dog  with  liim,  and  locking  the  door  after  him.  We  tried  to 
push  the  door  open,  but  could  not.  I  picked  up  a  stick  of  wood 
and  broke  the  door  in.  I  broke  open  one  trunk  and  found  some 
money,  and  in  a  purse  I  found  some  more  money.  Baker  went 
up  stairs  ;  said  he  did  not  find  any  money.  I  did  not  go  up 
stairs.  We  then  left  for  town.  I  told  the  boy  to  go  to  David 
Dclaney's  in  the  morning,  and  tell  him. 

We  wont  to  the  horse,  as  sworn  to  by  Headrick  in  court.  I 
went  on  foot.  Baker  got  on  the  horse.  We  came  home,  as 
sworn  to  in  court,  Baker  drinking  some  on  tlic  road.    Saw  those 


6  CONFESSION   OF  BEALE. 

three  men  in  Davidson  s  lane,  as  sworn  to  in  court.  Wlien  we 
carae  to  the  creek,  where  one  witness  said  there  was  a  rail  broken 
on  the  fence,  there  Baker  brought  his  horse  intp  Strong's  pasture, 
and  we  went  down  tlie  creek  to  an  old  cabin  ;  there  I  gave  Ba- 
lder some  money — five  hundred  dollars  ($500).  I  was  afraid  to 
give  him  more,  as  he  was  somewhat  under  the  influence  of  liquor. 
We  then  came  a  short  way  together,  and  I  left  him  and  went 
home. 

When  I  got  home  my  folks  had  not  gone  to  bed  ;  it  was  between 
nine  and  ten  o'clock.  •!  went  to  t]ie  back  door  to  wash,  but 
could  not  find  any  soap.  I  crossed  over  the  street  to  Baker's, 
and  waslied  back  of  Warner's  paint  shop  ;  then  went  home.  By 
tills  time  my  folks  had  gone  to  bed.  1  knc^cked  at  the  door  ; 
Mrs.  Taylor  got  up,  lit  the  lamp,  and  opened  the  door  and  let 
me  in.  I  looked  in  the  glass  and  saw  some  black  on  my  C)  e  ; 
went  to  the  back  door  and  washed  ;  came  back  in  tlic  house 
right  away  and  talked  awhile  with  my  wife  ;  then  went  to  the 
kitchen  and  ate  some  bread  and  butter  ;  then  went  to  get  some 
brandy  ;  walked  up  street  a  short  distance^;  came  back  without 
getting  any  brandy  ;  then  went  to  bed. 

My  usual  time  of  getting  up  in  the  morning  was  six  o'clock. 
Next  morning  the  clock  struck  six,whcn  it  was  only  five  ;  sol  got 
up  one  hour  sooner  than  usual ;  we%t  to  the  saloon  about  half- 
past  five ;  found  the  old  Dutch  tailor  walking  up  and  down  the 
pavement  in  front  of  my  saloon.  I  unlocked  the  door,  went  in, 
and  locked  the  door  after  me,  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  the  old 
Duch  tailor  out  until  I  lit  the  lamps  and  made  a  fire. 

It  is  the  duty  of  John  G.  Wright  to  inspect  all  cliimneys, 
stove-pipes,  etc.,  in  town.  A  few  days  before,  he  came  to  my 
saloon  to  look  at  the  chimney,  and  drew  the  pipe  out  of  it, 
and  that  morning,  the  pipe  being  loose,  it  had  come  out  again 
and  was  smoking.  I  went  up  stairs  with  a  candle  and  fixed  the 
pipe.    I  speak  of  this  for  two  reasons :  First,  there  was  some- 


CONFESSION   OF   BEALE.  » 

thing  Siiid  by  the  old  Diitcli  tailor  about  me  being  up  stairi? — 
>upjx)sed  to  have  been  stowing  away  money.  There  was  also 
something  said  by  a  Mr.  Evans  about  seeing  cob-wol)s  on  my 
l)ack.  This  was  on  Tuesday  morning.  The  room  that  the  stove 
sits  in,  is  a  shed  room,  and  to  get  to  the  chimney  abovo  I  had  to 
stoop  on  account  of  the  .shed  being  so  low  ;  and  that  was  the 
way  that  I  got  those  cob-webs  on  my  back.  This  was,  as  I  un- 
derstand, the  talk  on  the  streets,  and  I  hope  this  short  explana- 
tion will  satisfy  tlie  people  on  this  point.  I  will  say  something 
further  about  this  Mr.  Evans.  He  was  indebted  to  me  some 
forty-odd  dollars,  and  went  off  and  forgot  to  pay  before  he  left. 
In  reference  to  my  wife's  family — as  it  is  well  known  that  my 
motlicr-in-law,  little  sister-in-law  and  little  brother-in-law  testified 
in  my  favor  in  court,  and  it  is  believed  that  some  of  them  swore 
f'll-c.  One  of  my  strgng  points  in  making  this  confession  is 
)  justify  those  who  arc  justifiable  and  condemn  those  who 
ought  to  be  condemned.  I  will  give  the  evidence  and  the  cir- 
cumstances as  tiiey  were,  then  the  people  can  draw  tlieir  own 
conclusions.  Firet,  Mrs.  Taylor  swore  tliat  the  hat  that  was 
exhibited  in  court  hung  on  a  nail  in  her  bed-room  all  the  time 
that  I  was  gone — Sunday  and  Monday.  That  was  not  true 
Still  she  did  not  swciir  to  a  lie.  1  got  a  hat  belonging  to  Ad- 
kina,  a  man  that  was  in  ray  employment  at  that  time,  and  living 
in  my  house,  a  hat  similar  to  the  other.  I  took  the  hat  tliat 
hung  on  the  nail  down,  put  this  one  in  its  i)lacc,  carried  the  other 
one  over  to  the  8aloon,went  up  stairs  and  stowed  away  the  hat  that 
I  was  wearing  and  woix;  the  black  o::c  off.  When  I  came  back 
I  changed  tlie  hats  as  they  were  beCorc,  unknown  to  any  of  the 
folks  that  were  in  the  house.  If  that  was  swearing  to  a  lie, 
may  God  puuiah  me  for  it  and  not  her.  She  swore  that  I  wore 
a  watch  wnth  a  steel  chain.  That  was  correct,  although  I  had 
on,  when  arrested,  a  watch  with  a  ribbon  guard.  That  was  my 
wife's  watch.    I  took  it  tliat  morning  to  get  a  crystal  put  in  it ; 


8  CONFESSION  OF  BEALE. 

the  same  I  told  the  sheriff  the  next  day  after  my  arrest.  Tlio 
same  day  my  wife  came  to  the  jail,  saw  the  watch,  and  told  the 
sheriff  that  was  her  watch.  The  sheriff  will  say  this  is  true, 
and  will  also  say  that  that  watch  had  no  crystal. 

The  little  girl  swore  that  she  combed  my  hair  on  Sunday 
morning,  and  placed  on  my  head  a  white  hat.     That  was  true. 

The  boy  testified  to  the  hat-band  ;  said  that  the  hat  had  none 
on  when  he  saw  it  out  at  the  farm.  It  had  no  band  on ;  that  is 
true.  About  the  time  he  swore  to,  or  a  little  before  that,  I  was 
gathering  apples,  and  pulled  the  band  off  that  hat  on  an 
apple  limb,  and  afterwards  sewed  it  on  myself.  That  is  the 
same  hat  that  I  wore,  and  that  is  the  same  band  that  was  found 
by  Ben  Yaughn  where  the  horsef  was  hitched.  I  hope  the  peo' 
pie  will  analyze  this  matter  and  consider  well,  for  death  is  noth- 
ing to  me  in  comparison  with  the  reputation  of  innocent  per- 
sons. 

I  will  now  go  back  to  where  I  left  Baker,  close  to  Dan  the 
butcher's  slaughter-house.  I  came  from  there  straight  home. 
Came  over  the  hill  by  Jo  Smith's  ;  crossed  the  creek  on  the  foot 
bridge  ;  came  down  to  the  new  grist  mill  race  ;  put  what,  money 
I  had  under  the  plank  race  close  to  the  dam  ;  left  it  there  until 
next  evening ;  went  about  six  o'clock,  raised  the  money,  and 
went  up  the  creek  by  the  brewery,  by  Mr.  Dillon's,  and  by  Mr. 
Waller's  house — the  one  that  stands  in  the  field,  close  by  the 
creek  ;  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  beyond  that,  in  the  brush,  I 
"ijuried  the  money  in  a  cigar-box  in  the  ground.  The  amount  of 
money  was  fourteen  hundred  dollars,  in  twenty  dollar  gold 
pieces,  and  one  old  silver  dollar  that  was  Imttered  on  the  edge. 

On  Monday,  the  first  day  of  my  preliminary  trial,  I  told  Caton 
where  that  money  was  ;  told  him  to  go  and  get  it  and  put  it 
away  until  I  told  him  what  to  do  with  it.  He  came  to  the  jail, 
next  day,  I  believe,  and  said  he  and  Logan  went,  but  could  not 
find  the  moiley.    He  said  that  he  and  Logan  came  near  having 


CONFESSION    OF  BEALE.  9 

a  fight.  Logan  accused  him  of  playing  him  ;  said  that  he  knew 
where  the  money  was,  but  wanted  it  all  himself.  He  said  that 
Logan  told  him  that  he  was  as  great  a  thief  as  I  was.  Caton 
said  he  tried  to  get  away  from  Logan  and  go  alone,  but  he  could 
not  get  clear  of  him ;  he  watdied  so  close.  He  tlien  warned  me 
not  to  tell  Logan  where  any  money  was,  for  he  would  raise  it 
and  keep  it.  I  had  not  told  Logan  where  any  money  was.  I 
told  him  this  much  Tuesday  morning,  second  day  of  my  trial  in 
the  court  room. 

Logan  told  me  that  I.  R.  Moores  and  many  others  had  gone 
over  the  long  bridge  to  look  for  the  money.  He  said  Dray  had 
told  that  he  had  seen  me  go  over  the  bridge  the  Saturday  before, 
with  a  box,  which  he  thought  had  twelve  or  fifteen  thousand  dol- 
lars in  it.  He  then  a^ed  me  if  there  was  any  money  over  that 
way.  I  told  him  there  was  not.  He  then  asked  me  where 
there  was  any  money,  and  I  told  him  up  on  this  side  of  the  creek. 
He  asked  me  what  kind  of  money  it  was.  I  told  him  twenty 
dollar  pieces.  He  said  that  was  good  ;  he  was  afraid  there  were 
some  of  those  d — d  old  sriuare  fifty  dollar  pieces.  He  wanted 
me  to  turn  Caton  <fe  Curl  off,  and  said  they  would  get  all  the 
money,  and  then  I  might  hang  and  be  d — d  ;  that  all  they  cared 
for  was  the  money,  and  not  for  Baker  or  myself.  I  was  afraid 
of  Logan  at  that  time,  but  not  of  Caton  &  Curl.  I  soon  after 
that  altered  my  opinion  of  Caton. 

The  next  day,  (Wednesday,)  I  gave  Caton  new  directions  and 
a  diagram  of  the  place  where  the  money  was.  After  that,  he  and 
Curl  both  told  me  that  they  had  gone  as  directed  and  found  the 
money,  and  had  brought  the  cigar-box  that  it  was  in,  broken  it  in 
sifiall  pieces,  and  thrown  it  in  the  mill-race. 

Up  to  this  time,  I  had  told  Caton  that  there  was  no  other 
money ;  bat  he  was  not  satisfied,  and  did  not  believe  me.  On 
Thoreday,  Caton  and  Logan  came  to  the  jail.  Caton  went  in 
the  cell  with  Baker,  I^ogan  into  my  cell  with  me.     Logan,  some- 


I'O  CONFESSION    OP  BEALE. 

what  under  the  influence  of  liquor,  said  to  me,  as  soon  as  we  en- 
tered the  cell,  "  Now,  d — n  you,  you  are  guilty  ;  tell  me  where 
every  dollar  of  that  money  is."  I  got  up,  took  hold  of  him,  and 
told  him  that  if  I  had  anything  to  kill  him  with,  I  would  take 
liis  life  in  less  than  a  minute.  He  then  tried  to  smooth  it  over, 
and  said  it  would  take  money  to  do  anything  with  my  case  ; 
that  these  small  scatterings  did  not  amount  to  anything,  (making- 
gestures  with  one  hand  over  the  cell  floor).  He  then  said  he 
could  do  anything  if  he  had  money,  and  wanted  to  know  if  I 
could  not  give  him  four  or  five  thousand  dollars.  I  told  him 
that  he  was  drunk,  and  I  did  not  want  to  talk  with  him.  AVe 
w^ent  out  of  the  cell.  Caton  came  to  the  cell  door  two  or  three 
times  while  Logan  and  I  were  in,  inquiring  of  Logan  if  he  was 
not  ready  to  go,  and  showing  signs  of  uneasiness.  Caton  went 
out  of  the  jail  before  Logan,  and  told  the  Sheriff  that  he  had 
enough  of  that  d — d  stuff.  These  were  my  first  suspicions  of 
Caton.  I  believe  he  thought  I  was  telling  Logan  where  the 
money  was.  After  they  were  gone,  I  told  'the  Sheriff  that  my 
attorneys  were  throwing  off  on  mo.  He  said  ho  thought  not. 
I  told  him  (Headrick)  that  I  had  a  great  notion  to  turn  all  of  my 
attorneys  off,  arid  go  before  the  court  without  an  attorney. 

About  this  time  I  told  my  lawyers  that  I  thought  I  had  better 
make  a  full  confession,  give  the  Delaneys  the  money  which  was 
justly  theirs,  as  I  had  no  right  to  it,  and  bring  myself  before 
the  people  just  as  it  was,  and  to  the  mercy  of  the  court ;  but  they 
would  not  hear  to  such  a  thing.  They  said  they  would  have  mc 
clear  if  they  had  to  tear  down  the  jail ;  and  told  me  never  to 
confess  anything  ;  that  they  could  bring  me  out  with  monej",  if 
nothing  else. 

I  told  Caton  about  some  money,  which  I  will  speak  of  here- 
after. Caton  very  often  came  to  the  jail  for  no  other  purpose 
than  to  tell  me  that  the  people  were  ready  to  mob  me  at  any 


CONFESSION    OF  BE  ALE.  11 

time ;  if  they  ever  got  one  word  of  evidence  that  I  was  guilty, 
they  would  hang  me,  and  him  with  me. 

Now  something  abuot  my  trial.  From  what  my  lawyers  told 
me,  I  made  no  calculation  on  having  my  trial  here ;  for  they 
told  me  there  would  be  no  trouble  in  getting  a  change  of  venue : 
so  there  were  no  preparations  made  for  a  trial ;  and  I  never 
knew  any  better  until  a  few  minutes  before  the  trial  conmienced. 
When  I  went  into  the  court  house  for  trial,  they  told  me  that 
they  had  papers  made  out  for  me  to  turn  my  case  over  until  the 
June  term  of  court,  but  had  none  for  Baker.  I  refused  to  con- 
>ent  to  it  unless  they  would  get  up  papers  for  Baker.  So  I  was 
forced  to  trial,  as  I  said  before,  without  preparation.  After  my 
trial,  and  after  sentence  was  passed,  I  think  that  about  the  last 
words  tliat  were  said  to  mc  in  the  court  house  by  Caton  and 
TiOgan  were  about  money — that  thirty  thousand  dollars.  They 
talked  to  me  separately,  and  wanted  .iie  to  tell  them  all  about  the 
money,  so  they  could  raise  it  for  the  benefit  of  my  wife  :  and 
Logan  said  he  could  hire  men,  if  he  had  money  to  do  it  with,  lo 
<?ome  and  give  the  sheriff  and  every  one  in  the  jail  chloroform, 
and,  with  false  keys,  unlock  the  cells,  turn  us  out,  disguise  us, 
and  take  us  out  of  the  country.  Caton  proposed  that  I  should 
give  him  a  diagram,  and  give  evej-y  particular,  making  certain 
ciphers,  to  show  where  the  money  was.  This  he  wanted  mc  to 
do  in  the  jail,  at  my  leisure.  To  all  this  I  made  no  reply.  Ca- 
ton's  and  Logan's  great  fear  was  tliat  the  Delaneys  would  get 
.some  hint  of  this  money  and  find  it  before  it  could  be  raised. 
Caton  came  to  me  in  the  jail,  and  wanted  this  map,  or  diagram, 
making  the  pretense  that  they  wanted  to  take  tlie  case  lo  the  su- 
preme court.  This  was  in  the  presence  of  the  sheriff,  and  since 
sentence  was  passed. 

I  will  now  speak  of  some  of  the  witnesses.  First.  Mr.  W.  S. 
liarker.  He  swore  that  I  told  him  I  was  at  Swartz'  mill.  Tliat 
was  not  so.    I  told  him  I  started  to  go  there,  but  did  not  tell 


12  CONFESSION    OF  EEALE. 

him  I  went  there.  Neither  did  I  tell  him  I  started  to  ^o  there^ 
on  the  9th  of  January.  I  do  not  think  Mr.  Barker  swore  a  lie  : 
but  he  was  mistaken,  or  he  never  would  have  sworn  what  he  did. 
Barker  came  into  my  saloon  on  Tuesday  morning.  I  was  stoop- 
ing down,  cleaning  my  boots,  and  conversation  commenced  about 
the  mud  on  my  boots.  I  do  not  think  we  talked  more  than  two 
or  three  minutes  ;  and  it  is  well  known  Mr.  Barker  is  a  little 
hard  of  hearing.  I  would  say  to  Mr.  Barker,  to  be  careful  after 
this  how  you  testify  when  there  is  life  depending. 

J.  E.  Parrott. — This  man  is  what  I  call  a  Sunday  preacher. 
What  I  mean  by  a  Sunday  preacher  is  this:  One  who  thinks 
himself  a  very  good  man  on  Sundays,  while  his  neighbors  think 
him  not  a  very  srood  man  all  of  the  week  days.  This  Mr.  J.  E. 
Parrott  swore  positively  to  a  casual  conversation  that  w;ok  plac- ■ 
between  him  and  myself,  some  six  or  seven  years  ago,  about  old 
man  Delaney's  money.  That  conversation  may  be  true,  as  I  do 
not  remember  so  well  as  Parrott.  But  there  is  one  thing  that 
he  swore  that  was  not  true.  He  swore  that  there  never.,  was 
any  difficulty  between  him  and  ipyself,  only  something  about 
rent  and  dividing  the  oats.  It  was  known  by  the  neighbors 
that  we  had  a  difficulty  about  family  matters,  and  he  knew  it 
when  he  swore  differently.  If  his  memory  was  so  good  as  to  re- 
member everything  that  was  said  about  old  man  Delaney's 
mon^,  he  could  not  forget  this,  unless  he  thought  more  of  tho 
money  than  he  did  of  his  family.  I  speak  of  this  to  show,  what 
excitement,  prejudice  and  hatred  will  lead  a  man  to  do.  Fare- 
well, Parrott ;  my  last  words  to  you  are  these  :  If  ever  you  ex- 
pect to  enter  the  gate  of  heaven,  you  must  learn  to  be  a  good 
man  Monday  as  well  as  Sunday. 

Let  me  here  say  something  about  another  one  of  these  strange 
kind  of  preachers.  That  is  a  Mr.  Dray,  of  Salem,  who  was 
once  a  very  zealous  Methodist  preacher.  But,  poor  fellow,  ho 
has  fallen  from  grace  ;  even  far  below  grace.    This  man  did 


CONFESSION    OP  BE  ALE.  13 

aot  swear  in  court,  but  caused  a  great  excitement  throughout 
the  town  and  country.  He  reported  that  he  saw  me  go,  the 
same  day  of  my  arrest,  over  the  long  bridge,  with  a  box  under 
my  arm,  which  he  thought  undoubtedly  had  money  in  it — twelve 
or  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  His  ideas  about  money  are  about 
the  same  as  they  are  about  religion.  That  amount  of  money,  in 
gold,  would  be  a  very  good  load  for  a  man  to  carry  in  a  box 
under  his  arm.  This  is  a  positive  falsehood,  and  Dray  knew  it 
was  when  he  was  telling  it ;  and  I  am  well  satisfied  that  the 
people  think  so  now,  for  it  is  well  known  that  this  Dray  never 
tells  the  truth  when  he  finds  a  lie  will  suit  as  well.  He  will  not 
only  lie,  but  will  take  things  that  do  not  belong  to  him.  It  is 
well  known  that  two-thirds  of  the  wood  that  he  burnt  this  win- 
ter, that  he  took  from  D.  AV.  Jones'  and  my  wood-shed  when  we 
were  asleep.  It  was  my  usual  custom  to  go  once  every  day  to 
the  new  grist  mill  and  get  a  basket  of  shavings  to  start  the  fire 
in  the  morning.  That  day,  as  I  was  going  after  shavings,  Dray 
walked  with  me  from  my  liouse  to  the  blacksmith  shop,  on  the 
corner,  between  my  house  and  the  mill.  I  had  a  basket  on  my 
arm,  and  Dray  knew  I  was  going  after  shavings.  One  more 
word,  Dray,  then  I  am  done  with  you.  Your  religion  may  do 
such  a  man  as  you  to  live  by,  but  it  will  not  do  for  a  good  man 
to  follow.  I  tell  you  when  you  come  to  die  it  will  not  be  worth 
two  beans. 

There  is  another  preacher  that  had  something  to  say  about 
tliis  matter — Mr.  Walrod,  who  lives  in  Salem,  and  is  in  good 
.standing  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  this  time.  He 
pretended  to  be  out  in  the  country  looking  for  a  horse  ;  but  that 
was  not  the  case.  Instead  of  looking  for  a  horse,  he  was  stealing 
a  horse,  which  he  did  from  Mr.  Thomas  Cross,  a  well  known 
citizen  of  Salem.  He  stole  tlie  horse,  brought  it  to  town,  cut  its 
mane  and  tail  off,  put  his  brand  on  it,  and  then  sent  it  into  the 
country  to  a  pasture.    Mr.  Cross  found  out  the  truth  about  the 


14  COKPESSION   OF  BEALE. 

matter  and  went  and  told  him  that  that  horse  belonged  to 
him.  He  said  not,  and  talked  very  saucy.  Cross  told 
him  if  he  did  not  produce  the  horse  very  soon  he  would 
put  the  law  in  force  against  him.  He  soon  brought  the 
horse,  gave  it  to  Cross,  and  was  glad  of  the  chance.  At 
the  very  time,  and  at  the  same  place,  that  this  preacher 
stole  this  horse,  he  told  a  Mr.  Harpole  that  Baker  and 
I  w^ere  guilty  of  this  robbery,  and  had,  no  doubt,  got 
a  large  amount  of  money ;  and  some  d^iy  we  would  be 
turned  out  of  jail,  and  the  sheriff  would  come  out  with  a 
large  amount  of  money.  I  do  not  speak  of  these  preach- 
ers with  any  degree  of  disrespect  toward  the  Methodist  or 
any  other  church.  I  do  it  to  show  how  differently  a  man 
will  act  from  what  he  talks.  These  men  should  not  be  n 
disgrace  to  the  church  or  preachers  of  any  denominatiuit, 
bu1>  to  themselves  only.  They  should  bear  their  sins  and 
answer  to  God  for  the  same. 

One  or  two  more  witnesses  that  I  wish  to  speak  of: 
First,  a  Mrs.  Greenwood.  She  swore  that  I  told  her  that 
I  w^ould  go  and  rob  old  man  Delaney  of  his  money,  i^  I 
could  get  any  one  to  go  with  me.  I  think  that  is  not 
true.  I  am  certain  it  is  not  so.  I  think  that  she  was  a 
good  deal  like  Dray  ;  wanted  to  tell  something,  and  that 
was  the  best  story  she  could  fabricate.  She  does  not  have 
the  best  name  for  truth  and  veracity  amongst  those  that 
kpow  her.  She  is  considered,  by  those  who  know  her 
best,  to  be  an  o}jsce?Te  woman.  . 

One  more  witness  th^t  I  wish  the  people  to  know  wlic> 

slie  is  and  what  she  is,  and  that  Is  a  Mrs.  M.  J.  Pomcrcy,  froni 

Walla  Walla,  an  old  resident  of  Salem.     Tliis  woman's  ex'- 

,  idence  was  in  reference  to  an  anonymous  letter  that  was- 

left  on  her  husband's  work  bench.     The  letter  was  found 


/ 


CONFESSION  OP  BEALE.  15 


by  Pomero}',  shown  to  I.  R.  Moores  and  others,  and  writ- 
ten by  an  unknown  person.  The  common  substance  of 
that  letter  was  a  large  amount  of  money  belonging  to  an 
old  secessionist,  and  wanted  Pomeroy  to  go  with  him 
and  rob  him -of  his  money.  Mrs.  Pomeroy  testified  that 
I  told  her,  when  we  were  gathering  strawberries,  that  I 
wrote  that  letter,  and  wanted  her  to  persuade  Pomeroy  to 
go  with  me  and  get  the  money  ;  but  she  refused  to  do  so, 
and  threatened  to  tell  her  husband ;  he  was  no  such  a  man, 
and  he  would  do  nothing  of  the  kind.  She  also  said  I 
told  her  that  I  had  reference  to  old  man  Delaney  and  his 
money.  This  evidence  is  false,  and  I  will  give  a  few  facts 
to  prove  it  so :  First,  she  swore  that  she  liked  me  very 
well,  and  I  came  to  her  house  afterward,  sometimes  in 
the  evening,  but  always  some  one  with  me.  I  wish 
jsuch  was  the  case ;  but,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  it  is  not  so. 
Better  for  me  if  I  had  never  gone  to  her  house.  It  is  well 
known  that  many  gentlemen  of  this  town  went  to  see  her 
of  evenings  alone,  when  her  husband  was  gone.  I  could 
name  some  of  them,  but  they  are  well  enough  known. 
About  the  time  this  letter  was  left  on  the  work  bench, 
this  Mrs.  Pomeroy  got  badly  stuck  after  a  Mr.  William 
Pettyjohn,  and  he  promised  to  run  ofi:*  with  her  and  marry 
her.  They  had  all  the  arrangements  made  and  the  time 
set  for  their  escape.  Tbo  arrangement  was,  that  she  in- 
tended to  poison  Pomeroy  and  her  children  before  hand. 
She  did  poison  her  children.  One  died,  and  the  other  two 
came  near  dvin«c.  The  wav  I  came  to  find  this  out,  1 
went  to  her  house  one  evening  and  found  this  man  Petty- 
john in  bed  witli  Mrs.  Pomeroy.  There  is  another  gen- 
tleman f  but  I  will  not  mention  his  name.  He  is  a 
young  married  man   in  the  mercantile  business;  has  a 


16  CONFESSION   OF  BEALE. 

partner,  and  owns  the  half  of  a  brick  store  on  Oommer- 
<;ial  street,  Salem.  Mrs.  Pomeroj  told  this  mercantile 
gentleman  that  I  had  done  her  a  great  wrong  when  she 
was  a  girl,  and  before  she  was  married,  and  she  intended 
to  have  revenge  if  it  tOok  her  the  last  days  *f  her  life. 
This  evidence  I  wished  to  have  before  the  court.  I  sent 
Caton  to  see  this  man.  Caton  said  that  he  told  him  he 
would  not  come  before  the  court ;  and  if  I  forced  him  to 
come  he  would  swear  something  against  me.  This  woman 
swore  in  court  that  she  had  me  in  her  power.  Pomeroy 
and  his  wife  were  sent  for  at  Walla  Walla  to  swear  against 
me.  Pomeroy  told  William  Ruby,  a  well  known  citizen 
of  Salem,  before  he  came  down  from  Walla  Walla,  that  he 
and  his  wife  were  going  to  Salem  to  get  revenge  from 
Beale.  He  told  Ruby,  at  the  same  time,  that  I  was  the 
cause  of  all  the  scandalous  talk  about  his  wife  when  they 
lived  in  Salem.  If  this  Mr.  Pomeroy  had  been  a  good, 
honest  citizen,  and  Mrs.  Pomeroy  a  nice,  virtuous  lady, 
why  did  not  they  inform  the  people  of  this  thing  at  the 
time  they  found  this  letter  ?  Is  there  an  honest  man  in 
Oregon  that  could  love  and  respect  his  wife  when  he  knew 
that  she  was  friendly  with  a  man  that  wanted  her  hus- 
band, through  her  persuasion,  to  do  an  unlawful  crime  ? 
If  such  should  be  the  case,  they  should  not  be  allowed  the 
privilege  of  citizenship.  I  think  it  is  plain  to  be  see;i  that 
this  letter  was  written  by  Mrs.  Pomeroy  and  Pettyjohn, 
for  one  of  two  things :  First,  Pettyjohn  expected  Pomeroy 
to  go  with  him  and  do  the  robbery.  When  he  found  that 
he  would  not  agree  to  do  so,  and  had  shown  the  letter  to 
^  Moores,  then  I  think  he  and  Mrs.  Pomeroy  thought  they 
would  put  the  whole  thing  on  my  shoulders.  T)iis  Mrs. 
Pomeroy  is. a  bad  and  dangerous  woman.     I  honestly  con- 


CO>sTE6SlON   OP  BEALE.  17 

fees  that  I  am  to  blame  fov  my  intimacy  with  her.  I 
have  nothing  further  to  say  against  any  other  witnes?? 
that  swore  against  me. 

I  desire  now  to  say  something  about  the  Delaney 
boys.  They  have  been  fair  and  gentlemanly.  Some 
of  them  came  to  the  jail  to  see  me  before  my  trial,  and  all 
of  them,  except  George,  have  come  to  see  me  since  my 
sentence;  and  George  went  to  his  home  at  Walla  Walla 
soon  after  the  trial.  They  have  done^  nothing  but  what 
was  honorable  and  just,  and  within  the  bounds  of  the  lav^^ 
I  have  taken  a  part  in  doing  them  a  great  wrong,  and  I 
would  to-day  give  my  right  arm,  my  life,  or  anything  that 
I  could  give,  or  do,  in  this  w^orld,  if  I  could  make  that  wrontc 
right.  I  hope  God  will  forgive  me  for  this  error,  and  I" 
?ioj>e  the  Delaney  boys  will  forgive  me. 

I  will  now  tell  what  I  know  about  the- moneys  First, 
the  fourteen  hundred  dollars,  in  twenty  dollar  pieces,  and 
the  old  silver  dollar,  battered  on  the  edges.  As  I  said  be- 
fore, Caton  was  the  only  person  that  I  told  where  the  mon- 
ey was.  Caton  and  Curl  told  me  that  they  had  got  that 
money,  and  had  found  it  just  as  I  had  told  them.  Caton 
tolcf  me,  in  the  presence  of  Curl,  that  he  had  thrown  the 
old  dollar  in  the  river,  or  creek — ^I  do  not  remember  which; 
but  one  or  the  Other.  I  often  spoke  to  Caton  about  that 
money,  and  told  him  not  to  disturb  it,  and  I  never  knew 
any  better  until  Judge  Strong  came  to  the  jail,  in  company 
with  Logan,  the  lirst  week  of  the  court,  and  said  Logan 
had  spoken  to  Him  to  assist  in  my  trial,  and  wanted  to 
know  if  I  could  make  him  se<3ure  in  his  pay.  I  told  him 
I  could  for  any  reasonable  fee.  Before  he  left  the  jail  he 
said  he  would  come  back  the  next  day  and  see  what  kind 
id  arranerements  could  be  made.     But  I  have  nevter  seen 


18  CONFESSION  OF  BEALE. 

him  since.  Before  leaving  the  jail,  Logan  whispered  ta 
me  and  said,  he  had  told  Judge  Strong  that  he  thought  I 
could  manage  to  pay  him  some  four  or  five  hundred  dol- 
lars. I  asked  Logan  if  he  thought  that  a  reasonable  fee. 
The  next  morning,  Caton  came  to  the  jail  and  said  that 
Strong  was  doubtful  about  his  pay,  and  that  that  thirty 
thousand  dollars  must  be  raised ;  that  Strong  had  been 
making  inquiries,  and  found  that  my  land  was  held  by  a 
judgment  for  as  much  ag  it  was  worth.  I  told  him  I  would 
have  to  make  nse  of  some  of  that  fourteen  hundred  dollars. 
He  then  said,  ihey  made  so  d — d  much  ficss  about  the  money^ 
that  he  had  to  divide  it  between  Logan,  'Curlf  and  himself! 
This  was  the  fisrst  that  I  knew  that  that  money  had  been 
disturbed.  I  spoke  sharply  to  Caton ;  told  him  that  he 
had  no  right  to  disturb  one  dollar  of  that  money*  He  said 
nothing  further  about  the  money,  and  left  the  jail  mad. 
The  next  thing'  that  I  heard  of  Judge  Strong,  he  had  left 
and  gone  to  Portland. 

Since  my  confession,  I  told  the  sheriff  and  John  Davis 
where  the  money  was  buried.  They  went  to  the  place,  taking 
with  them  Geo.  A.  Edes,  and  found  everything  just  as  I  had 
told  them.  Same  blue  paper  was  found  on  the  ground  that 
had  been  in  the  cigar-box,  but  the  box  and  money  was  gone. 

Ivow,  something  about  this  thirty  thousand  dollars,  so 
often  spoken  of  This  is  all  a  fabricatian  of  my  own.  A» 
I  have  before  said,  my  attorneys,  like  everybody  else, 
thought  there  was  a  large  amount  of  money  somewhere ; 
and  money  was  what  they  wanted.  I  first  told  them  the 
truth  about  the  money,  but  they  did  not  believe  me.  I 
thought  that  by  telling  them  of  this  money  they  would  at- 
tend to  my  case  better,  expecting  they  would  get  more 
money.     I  told  Logan  and  Caton  that  Baker  knew  nothing" 


CONFESSION   OF  BEALE.  19 

about  this  money ;  that  I  had  got  it  when  he  was  not  in 
the  house,  I  told  them  that  when  we  left  the  house,  Ba- 
ker went  direct  to  the  horse,  and  that  I  took  a  circuitous 
route  to  a  place  t  had  prepared  beforehand.  I  told  them 
I  had  dug  a  hole,  carried  away  the  dirt,  and  brought  stone 
to  fill  up  the  hole,  instead  of  dirt.  I  first  told  Caton  about 
this  supposed  money,  and  afterward  told  Caton  and  Logan 
together.  Logan  wanted  me  to  tell  the  place,  so  he  could 
send  a  man,  by  the  name  of  Knott,  that  he  had  brought 
up  from  Portland ;  said  the  man  was  well  acquainted  with 
the  Delaneys,  and  I  think  he  said  he  was  out  at  Delaney's 
at  that  time.  I  told  him  that  the  money  never  could  be 
found  ifnlesk  I  could  go  myself,  and  if  I  never  got  clear, 
the  money  would  never  be  found.  He  said  the  squirrels 
v'ould  dig  it  up.  I  told  him  about  bringing  the  stone  and 
.illUig  the  hole  with  it.  It  was  proven  in  court  tht^t  both 
our  tracks  went  the  same  direction  from  the  house  to  the 
horse.  Caton  acknowledged  in  the  jail  that  the  above 
statement  was  true.  Tliat  shows  that  money  matter  to  be 
false. 

To  show  the  great  anxiety  of  my  attorneys  to  get  the 
money,  I  will  here  state  one  thing.  They  told  me  that 
they  had  got  two  respectable  citizens  of  Salem  to  swear 
that  they  saw  nie  in  town  between  six  and  seven  o'clock 
in  the  evening,  on  the  9th  of  January.  I  did  not  believe 
any  such  thing.  I  knew  it  was  false  when  I  heard  them 
mentijon  the  men's  names.  Whenever  they  desired  me  to 
tell  them  where  the  raeney  could  be  found,  so  they  could 
go  or  send  for  it,  I  got  rid  of  them  the  best  way  I  could. 
The  first  week  of  court,  Logan  and  Caton  came  and  told 
me  that  those  two  men  would  not  come  before  the  court 
unless  they  got  big  pay  for  it,  and  that  beforehand ;  that 


20  COXFEaSION    OF  BEALE. 

they  could  nor  would  not  stand  the  censure,  of  the  people 
unless  they  got  the  money  first.  They  told*  me  that  one 
of  these  ^en  sa^d  that  if  I  would  give  directions  where  to 
find  the  money,  they  would  'raise  it,  and  this  man  would 
take  it  to  San  Francisco. 

When  I  first  made  this  confession,  my  attorneys  were  at 
the  Yamhill  circuit  court.  I  sent  Sheriff  Ileadrick  and 
William  Delaney  to  see  them,  and  tell  them  what  I  had 
said  about  the  money.  They  (Headrick  and  Delaney)  say 
that  when  they  first  spoke  to  the  attorneys  (Caton  &  Curl) 
•about  the  money  matter,  telling  them  that  Beale  and  Ba- 
ker had  made  a  confession,  and  had  somewhat  implicated 
them  with  receiving  what  money  they  took  from  Delaney, 
and  that  they  (Beale  and  Baker)  did  not  wish  to  get  their 
attorneys  into  a  difticulty,  but  wished  them  to  come  to  tho 
jail  and  talk  the  matter  over  before  the  confession  came 
before  the  .public,  Curl  replied  that  that  w^is  all  right ; 
that  they  would  make  it  all  right ;  and  then  Caton  spoke 
and  said,  excitedly,  that  they  got  no  money;  that  Beale 
and  Baker  were  telling  d— d  lies,  or  something  to  that  ef- 
fect. Then  the  conversation  stopped  between  Caton  and 
Curl  and  Headrick  and  Delaney. 

The  next  day  Headrick  and  Delany  returned  to  Salem  ; 
the  attorneys  (Caton  and  Logan)  coming  with  them.  Curl 
went  to  Portland.  Caton  and  Logan  came  to  the  jail.  Lo- 
gan said  he  got  some  mone}^,  and  it  was  mine.  Caton  de- 
nied that  he  had  raised  any  money.  Before  he  left  the 
jail  he  said  he  had  some  Uv^  thousand. dollars  of  my  mon- 
ey, but  had  not  appropriated  one  dollar  of  it  to  his  use. 
He  would  not  say  much  about  anything.  When  I  asked 
him  a  question,  he  would  refer  me  to  Mr.  Logan.  This 
conversation   was   in   th-e  presence   of  George   A.  Edcs, 


CONFESSION    OF   BEALE.  21 

William  Dclaney,  and  the  sheriff.  Catoii  aud  Logau  then 
set  about  to  embitter  the  people  against  me,  telling  that 
which  would  suit  their  cause  best,  and  published  an  arti- 
cle in  the  Arena,  which  tliO}^  wanted  to  appear  as  an  edito- 
rial. I  will  say  before  God  and  man  that  it  is  falst|*'° 
throughout,  and  one  of  the  most  abominable  things  that 
ever  appeared  in  any  paper.  Xot  only, did  they  publish 
this  and  other  falsehoods,  but  changed  an  article,  to  suit 
their  own  case,  that  I  sent  to  the  Arena  for  publication  I 
Oaton,  after  telling  every  one  that  would  listen  to  him, 
that  our  confession,  in  reference  to  the  killing  of  Delaney 
and  the  money,  was  false,  now  comes  to  the  jail  and  says 
to  me  that  he  did  not  wish  to  do  me  any  harm ;  that  hv 
was  willing  to  do  anything  for  me  he  could  ;  that  all  ho 
wanted  of  me,  was  to  say  that  I  told  him  that  that  money 
J>aIpnK.ed  to  me  ;  that  the  way  the  thing  was  it  put  him  in 
ah  awkward  position  before  the  people;  that  if  I  would  , 
say  that  I  told  him  the  money  belonged  to  mc  he  would 
do  all  that  he'could  to  help  me. 

I  have  had  something  to  say  about  Sunday  preachers.  ] 
am  sorry  to  say,  Tom,  that  you  were,  at  one  time,  a  very- 
religious  preacher  of  this  kind.  You  are  the  fourth  one 
that  has  had  something  to  do  or  say  about  my  case  ;  and 
every  one  of  you  have  been  rotten  and  false.  You  have 
not  only  lied  and  betrayed  me,  but  you  have  done  the 
same  thing  to  my  wife.  You  cannot  betray  any  further; 
but  persist  in  telling  the  most  barefaced  falsehoods  that 
your  ingenuity  can  fabricate. 

Since  we  have  been  in  jail,  all  kinds  of  persons  have 
f^jonie  to  see  us,  and  for  all  purposes.  Some  for  religious 
purposes,  some  for  company,  othcr^for  furiosity.  Per- 
sons that  have  known  us  for  yeara^Wpffld  come  to  see  if 
we  were  not  or  had  ncft  turned  into  some  wj^pVfrican  an- 
nials,  that  had  to  be  locked  in  iron  cells  with  balls  and 
chains  fastened  about  our  person  ;  ntand,  look  and  gap^. 
thinking  that  if  we  were  to  break  jail,  the  town  woufd  be 
jullaged,  stores  and  other  places  that  have  money  would 
be  robbed  and  the  people  murdered.     Ladies  have  come 


22  C0Np:ssi0N  of  beale. 

on  the  outside,  stood  on  their  tip-to6sand  looked  through 
the  grates  to  behold  the  monstrous  and  hideous  animals 
that  were  chained  within ;  thinking,  if  not  for  those  iron 
bars,  they  would  be  devoured  in  a  minute.  Other  ladies 
have  come  on  the  inside  of  the  jail,  talked  kind,  and  sym- 
pathized with  us,  believing  that  we  were  human  beings 
and  not  animals,  and  hoping  that  God  might  have  mercy 
on  our  souls. 

Dr.  McAffee,  old  man  Durbin,  Jack  Donaldson,  John 
Davis,  and  some  few  other  gentlemen,  have  visited  us  in 
jail,  been  kind  and  good  to  us,  and  sorry  to  see  us  in  our 
distressed  condition. 

Revs.  Mr.  Waller,  Mr.  Dickinson,  and  tlie  Catholic 
Priest  have  been  our  principal  advisers  in  religious  matters. 
They  are  of  different  churches,  and  of  different  opinions. 
I  am  not  able  to  know  which  of  them  is  right.  I  differ 
with  them  all.  They  have  their  opinions.;  I  have  mine. 
Baker  is  inclined  to  believe  with  them. 

Something  now  about  my  trial:  We  had  a  just  and  ^.m 
partial  one.  I  think  the  court  and  prosecuting  attorneys 
did  their  duty.  I  have  nothing  to  say  agaiijst  any  of  the 
jury.^  In  my  judgment  they  gave  an  impartial  verdict.  As 
for  Judge  Boise,  he  showed  no  partiality  on  either  side  ; 
but  I  do  think,  under  existing  circumstances,  that  we 
ought  to  have  had  a  change  of  venue.  We  asked  it ;  and 
I  think  we  had  just  cause  to  do  so,  as  the  people  were 
greatly  excited  and  very  much  prejudiced  against  us. 

I  have  a  few  more  words  to  say  about  my  attorneys : 
Curl  did  his  duty,  as  far  as  I  know,  through  the  trial.  His 
statement  about  the  money  is  not  correct.  Logan  worked 
well  during  the  trial.  I  think  he  did  all  that  he  could  to 
clear  us.  lie  might  have  prepared  himself  better,  if  he 
had  not  been  so  eager  to  get  more  money.  His  statement 
about  the  murder  and  the  money  is  not  correct.  Caton,  I 
think,  at  fir^,  iutea^ed  to  do  what  was  right.  After  he 
got  the  mort%,  my  opinion  is  that  Logan  put  him  up  to  do 
what  he  did.  It  is  evident  that  Logan  has  kept  Caton  be- 
tween him  and  danger  ;  that  or  something  else  has  caused 
Caton  to  do  worse  thjin  either  of  the  others.  He  has  de- 
ceived me  ;  he  has  deceived  my  wife.  He  has  lied  to  me ; 
he  has  lied  to  my  wife.     His  statement  about  the  murder 


CONFESSION   OF  BEALE.  23 

flftd  money  is  not  correct.  I  would  now  say  to  my  attor- 
neys, that  I  always  told  them  that  money  belonged  to  De- 
ianey,  and  it  is  Delaney's  money,  and  it  is  my  wish  that 
they  give  the  money — one  thousand  four  hundred  dollars 
that  tney  got  of  me'and  five  hundred  dollars  that  they  got 
of  Baker — to  Delaney.  I  am  well  satisfied  that  they  got 
Baker's  money.  1  do  not  make  this  statement,  in  refer- 
ence to  my  attorneys,  through  any  spite  or  malice  that  I 
have  toward  them.  They  are  facts,  and  they  forced  me  to 
them.  I  have  given  them  every  opportunity  that  I  had  in 
ray  power  to  make  this  matter  right*  They  refused  to  do 
anything.  The  money  they  have  got,  and  it  is  money 
they  want.  This  matter  can  be  summed  up  between  these 
attorneys  and  myself  in  these  words :  I  stole  the  money 
from  Delane}',  the  altorneys  stole  it  from  me!  May  God  have 
mercy  on  my  souls. 

This  confession  was  penned  by  myself,  with  the  consent 
of  Baker  to  nearly  all  of  it,  and  we  both  agreed  and  ac- 
knowledged before  witnesses  that  it  was  true.  Kow  comes 
Bakei\  afthis  late  day,  and  makes  another  confession.  His 
reasons  for  this  are,  first,  that  it  was  false  in  some  things, 
and  put  more  of  the  blame  on  him  that  he  was  entitled  to, 
and  that  I  wished  to  take  the  blame  off  myself  and  family 
and  place  it  on  him  and  his  family  ;  second,  that  he  wished 
to  clear  his  conscience,  make  his  peace  with  God,  and  be 
ready  to  try  the  realities  of  another  world.  My  time  is 
short — being  only  seven  more  days — and  I  have  but  little 
to  say  about  Baker's  confession.  I  could  say  a  great  many 
things  that  would  conflict  with  his  Btateraents,  but  I  will 
only  mention  a  few  facts.  He  has  been  told  by  several 
persons  tiiat  the  people  were  prejudiced  against  me,  and  it 
was  the  ox)inion  of  every  one  that  he  was  not  to  blame; 
tliat  I  had  persuaded  him  into  it,  and  laid  the  plans.  I 
will  say  that  Baker's  statement,  where  it  differs  from  the 
one  written  by  me,  is  not  true.  He  must  have  been  so 
drunk  at  the  time  that  he  did  not  know  what  occurred,  or 
he  made  the  confession  for  some  other  purpose  than  the 
one  stilted.  He  says  I  shot  three  or  four  times  in  the  house. 
T  will  say  to  every  one,  go  and  see  if  you  can  fmd  any  bul- 
let holes  in  the  house. 

>iamuel  Headrick. — IBs  treatment  toward  us  has  been 


24  CON'FEaSION   OF  BExlLE. 

commendable.  I  have  found  him  to  be  a  g-entleman  h.- 
every  respect.  He  has  always  been  good  and  kind.  Our 
Hying  has  been  as  good  as  the  mai-kct  could  afford,  and 
v^e  have  had  nice,  clean,  comfortable  beds.  He  did  for  up 
every  favor,  great  or  small,  that  w^  would  ask  of  him,  and 
a  great  many  that  we  did  not  ask.  I  do  say  that  I  tliiuk 
he  did  everything  in  his  power^to  make  us  comfortable. 
He  always  talked  kind  and  pleasant.  I  have  never  heard 
him  speak  a  cross  word  since  I  liave  been  in  jail,  and  I 
must  acknowledge  that  I  have  given  him  some  cause  to  do 
80.  He  has  treated  my  wife  with  the  greatest  kindness ; 
giving  her  every  privilege  the  law  would  grant.  He  is  a 
man  that  has  a  good  heart  and  tender  feelings.  Mrs. 
Headrick  and  Josie,  her  sister,  have  been  as  good  to  us  as 
sisters  could  be  to  their  own  brothers.  Mrs.  Headrick's 
conduct  toward  my  wife  has  been  more  like  a  sister  than 
otherwise,  ever  greeting  her  with  kind  words  and  a  goodly 
feeliug.  I  have  not  language  at  my  command  to  express 
my  thanks  and  gratitude  for  your  goodness  toward  my 
wife  and  myself  May  God  bless  you  ;  may  He  bless  you 
more  abundantly  for  your  goodness  toward  Maria.  I  hope 
3^ou  both  may  live  a  long  life  and  a  happy  one.  And 
v/hen  the  strong  arm  comes,  bringing  the  message  of 
Death,  may  j^ou  be  prepared  to  go  to  that  place  where 
there  is  a  never-ending  bliss,  is  my  humble  and  sincere 
prayer.     May  God  bless  you  and  yours.      Vive^,  vale. 

I  can  say  that  I  have  been  treated  kindly  by  every  one 
about  the  jail.  My  best  respects  to  Billy  *^Barker  for  his 
kind  and  goodly  treatment. 

It  is  generally  customary  for  persons  that  commit  crime, 
after  being  convicted,  to  make  confessions,  repent,  and 
ask  forgiveness  of  their  God,  and  to  warn  the  people  against 
such  things.  I  do  not  offer  myself  as  a  pattern  of  morality 
to  give  good  counsel  to  any  one,  but  I  would  say  to  every 
one,  particularly  to  }'Oung  men,  beware  of  ^dce  and  low 
company.  Guard  strongly  against  such  things.  And  if 
audi  a  thing  as  an  unlawful  crime  should  ever  enter  your 
mind,  cast  it  ofl' — get  rid  of  it  as  soon  as  possible.  Hon- 
<^9ty  is  most  undoubtedly  the  best  policy.  It  may  be  hard 
for  some  to  live  honest,  but  stick  to  it  and  you  will  "come 
out  right  in  the  end.  - 


COXFESSION 


GEORGE    BAKER. 


The  reasons  for  making  this  confession  arc  these : 
First,  that  Beale,  my  accomplice  in  the  murder,  has  writ- 
ten and  is  now  having*  published  a  confession  of  the  r^iur- 
der,  which  is  not  true  in  many  respects ;  and  I  have  al 
IPSieci.^hrough  over-persuasion  for  an  object,  my  name  to 
be  used  m  Beale's  statements  of  the  matter,  which  are 
false,  and  I  wish  to  make  my  peace  with  my  God  and  tell 
the  truth.  Tlie  statements  of  Beale  are  prepared  by  him- 
self almost  exclusively,  and  as  he  has  said,  were  so  shaped  as 
to  give  him  an  equal  show  in  the  sympathies  of  the  peo- 
ple, lie  expected  a  commutation  of  sentence  when  ho 
lirst  made  the  confession,  and  proposed  to  me  to  shape  it 
as  he  has  for  that  purpose.  I  now  with  to  make  a  true 
statement  of  the  facts  in  the  premises,  as  the  time  is  too 
short  for  a  petition  to  be  circulated  fyv  a  commutation, 
and  as  I  have  borne,  in  his  statement,  tHoiH)  of  the  guilt 
than  is'due  me.  I  am  now  preparing  to  die  and  meet  my 
God  in  peace,  if  possible,  and  I  have  no  further  hopes  of 
a  change  of  sentence,  and  no  object  whatever  in  making 
this  confession,  butto  tell  things  as  they  are,  and  letthe  world 
know  the  truth,  tjiat  they  may  be  benefited  thereby.  Without 
repeating  what  Beale  has  said,  or  referring  to  it  further  than 


26  CONFESSION  OF  GEORGE  BAKER. 

what  I  have,  I  will,  as  brie%  as  possible,  saj  what  I  know 
to  be  the  facts, in  tli3  matter,  which  are  as  follows: 

About  the  middle  of  December  last  was  the  first  time 
tfiat  anything  was  said  between  Beale  and  myself  about 
^*  robbing  old  man  Delaney.  About  that  time,  Beale  said 
to  me  in  his  saloon,  in  Salem,  ''  that  he  knew  where  there 
was  an  old  man  that  had  a  great  deal  of  money,  and  that 
w^  could  go  and  get  it  very  easily;"  to 'which  I  made  no 
reply.  A  few  da3's  after  this,  I  went  into  his  saloon  again, 
when  he  said  that  it  was  old  man  Delaney  he  had  refer- 
ence to,  and  that  we  could  go  a:nd  rob  him  and  no  one 
would  ever  know  anything  about  it.  I  still  made  no  re- 
ply to  what  he  said  about  the  matter.  Some  two  days 
after  this  time,  I  was  again  in  his  saloon,  when  he  again 

proposed  the  same'  matter,  and  said  that  if  I  would  Jeav-e 
the  management  of  the  matter  to  him,  we  could  get  ti 
money  and  never  be  found  out,  or  that  no  one  would  sus- 
pect who  did  it.  About  this  time  one  of  my  children  was 
taken  very  ill,  and  there  was  nothing  more  said  about  the 
matter  for  over  a  week ;  bat  as  soon  as  my  child  com- 
menced to  get  better,  he  again  approached  me,  and  want- 
ed to  know  when  I  would  be  able  to  go  with  him..  I  then 
told  him  that  my  child  would  have  to  get  a  great  deal  bet- 
ter before  I  could  go  into  such  an  arrangement.  He  then 
said  we  would  have  to  go  pretty  soon,  or  it  -^oukl  be  no 
use  to  go,  as  the  old  man  was  going  to  move  over  to  Billy 
or  Davy  Delaney's  to  live,  and  we  would  never  get  it.  He 
still  insisted  that  we  were  both  poor,  and,  by  taking  old 
man  Delaney's  money,  it  would  give  us  a  start  in  the 
world,  and  we  could  be  somebody.  He,  at  this  interview, 
said  that  he  knew  where  the  money  was;  that  he  was 
very  well  acquainted  with  old  man  Delaney ;  had  had  a 
great  deal  of  business  with  him ;  that  he  was  at  his  house 
once,  packing  apples,  and  struck  his  hammer  against  a  keg 
setting  under  the  bed,  which  sounded  like  it  was  full  of 
money ;  that  most  of  the  people  believed  the  old  man  had 
his  money  buried  in  the  ground,  but  he  knew  better  than 


CONFESSION   OF  GEORGE  BAKER.  2T 

tbat ;  that  the  money  was  in  the  honsel  He  also  said  that 
he  had  been  out,  or  was  going  out,  soon,  after  some  butter, 
and  that  he  had,  or  was  going  to,  prospect  and  see  where 
the  money  was.  I  do  not  recollect  positively  how  he  made 
this  last  statement,  but  I  am  sure  it  was  in  relation  to  pros- 
pecting, to  see  where  the  money  was.  He  further  said 
that  he  hqd  already  poisoned  and  killed  the  old  man's 
watch-dog,  but  that  he  had  got  another  one  from  Bilh', 
which  was  of  no  accotmt ;  that  he  could  run  him  out  of  the 
yard  with  a  whistle.  f 

About  this  time,  I  was  strongly  in  the  notion  of  enlist- 
in «:  as  a  soldier,  but  Beale  told  me'  that  he  had  a  better 
thing  for  me,  and  persuaded  me  out  of  the  notion  of  enlist- 
ing. A  short  time  after  this  interview,  Beale  went  out  to 
his  farm,  requesting  me  to  come  out  the  next  day  to  avoid 
suspicion,  saying  it  would  not  do  for  us  both  to  go  togeth- 
er. •  I  did  not  go  out,  nor  agree  to  go  out.  When  Beale 
•:inie  back,  he  approached  me  in  this  style:  "You  are  a 
1  prt^tty  fellow,  not  to  come  out  as  you  agreed  to;  to 
iiave  a  man  travel  there  and  back  for  nothing." 

Next  morning  after  the  last  conversation,  I  called  in  at 
Beale's  saloon,  and  I  agreed  to  go  with  him  to  Dclaney's 
after  his  money.  We  agreed  upon  this  plan  :  Beale  was 
to  go  out  on  Sunday  to  Mr.  Taylor's,  and  sta}'  over  night, 
and  I  agreed  to  meet  him  next  day  at  Kector's  bridge,  on 
Mill  creek.  On  Sunday  morning,  before  leaving,  Beale 
gave  me  a  bottle  of  whisky,  telling  me  to  bring  it  out  next 
day,  and  told  me  to  bring  some  small  rope  to  tic  the  old 
man  with.  After  meeting  at  Rector's  bridge,  we  proceed- 
ed to  Dclaney's,  as  published  lieretofore  in  the  Oregon 
Statesman,  arriving  on  the  hill,  a  short  distance  above  Bcr 
laney's  house,  at  the  place  testified  to  in  court  where  the 
horse  was  hitched,  at  about  lialf-past  four,  p.  m.  Beale 
;i-krd  rne  if  I  had  brought  the  rope.  I  told  him  I  had  no 
i"}'*'  Ijut  the  one  I  had  for  a  lass  rope  on  my  saddle.  Left 
my  horse,  went  down  near  the  house,  sat  down  in  some 
under-brush  in  the  timber,  and  watched  the  maneuvering 
ot  the  old  man,  and  drank  wUisky,  Beale  persuading  mo 
to  drink  plenty  of  whisky,  so  that  I  would  have  good  cour- 
age, and  then  there  would  be  no  back  out  in  me. 

At  this  time  and  place  Beale  told  me  that  he  had  been 


28  CONFESSION  OP  GEORGE  BAKER. 

there  four  or  five  times* before  that  alone,  and' watched  the 
ohl  man,  but  coukl  not  get  a  good  chance  at  him,  or  some- 
thing of  that  kind.  About  half-past  five  o'clock,  Beale 
and  i  went  back  to  where  the  horse  was  liitched  and  saw 
he  was  all  right,  and  returned  immediately ;  stopping  at  a 
pool  of  water  and  blacked  our  faces  from  some  lamp 
black  that  Beale.  took  from  his  pocket.  We  then  proceed- 
ed to  the  house,  or  gate  near  the  house.  Beale  then  hal- 
looed "■  halloo,"  some  three  or  four  times,  and  the  old  man 
came  out — Beale  saying  to  him  that  be  w^as  a  stranger  in 
the  country,  and  had  got  lost  in  the  hills  in  trying  to  find 
the  road  to  Duncan's,  and  wished  the  old  man  to  direct 
him.  At  this  time  it  was  getting  quite  dark.  As  the  old 
man  neared  us,  Beale  spoke  to  me  in  a  low  tone  of  voice, 
saying  two  or  three  tirne^"  Shoot,"  "  Shoot,"  which  I  did 
w^ith  one  barrel  of  my  shot-gun,  and  the  old  man  fell  upon 
his  hands  and  knees.  The  dog  coming  out  toward  us,  I 
fired  the  other  barrchat  him.  The  old  man,  in  the  mean 
time,  got  up  and  started  toward  the  house  and ^fe]l  for- 
ward. Beale  got  over  the  fence,  ran  up  to  the  old  man 
and  shot  twice  at  him  with  a  pistol.  When  Beale  started 
for  the  old^man,  a  little  negro  boy  standing  close  by,  start- 
ed and  ran  into  the  house,  locking  and  fastening  the  door 
and  taking  the  dog  with  him.  After  shooting  him,  Beale 
went  to  the  door  of  the  house  and  tried  to  get  in,  calling 
at  me  to  "  come  on."  In  the  mean  time  I  was  loading  my 
gun  at  the  gate.  At  his  call  for  me  to  "  come  on,"  I  came 
up  and  we  both  tried  to  push  the  door  open,  but  could  not. 
Beale  then  picked  up  a  log  of  wood,  some  three  feet  long 
and  eight  or  ten  inches  through,  with  which  he  bursted 
the  door  open,  and  rushed  into  the  house  and  shot  at  the 
little  negro  boy  some  three  or  four  times,  as  he  (Beale) 
afterward  told  me.  Beale- in  the  meantime  told  me  to 
stay  out  in  the  yard  and  see  that  nobody  came  while  he 
looked  for  money.  Beale  searched  for  some  time,  then 
came  out  and  told  me  to  go  in  and  look  and  see  if  I  could 
find  any  money.  While  I  was  in  the  house,  Beale  came 
to  the  door  and  told  me  to  break  open  the  stair  door  and 
look  up  there,  which  I  did.  I  looked  in  s^weral  boxes,  but 
found  no  money.  I  then  came  down,  \yent  out  in  the 
yard,  and  Beale  went  up  stairs.     When  he  came  back,  he 


CONFESSION  OF  OEORdE  BAKEHfc-^  20 

told  me  that  be  could  not  find  anything  up  tbcr6.  Ho  told 
me  to  go  into  the  kitchen  and  search  there,  -which  I  did," 
getting  the  key  from  0ie  little  negro  hoy,  but  found  no 
money.  At  this  time  I  did  not  know  whether  Bcale  had 
got  any  money  or  not. 

We  then  left  tlie  bouse  and  went  to  where  the  horse  was 
liitched,  as  described  b}^  witnesses  in  court.  We  came  to 
town  on  same  route  as  sworn  to  in  court  by  Ilarpole  and 
others.  On  our  way  home,  Beale  asked  me  if  1  had  found 
any  money.  I  told  him  I  had  not.  I  then  asked  him  if 
he  had  found  aiix.  He  said  he  thought  he  had  some  sev- 
en or  eight  htmdred  dollars,  if  it  w^as  all  gold.  There  was 
nothing  more  said  about  money  until  we  got  to  the  old 
cabin  in  Strong's  pasture.  Here  we  stopped,  tried  to  wash 
the  black  otf  our  faces,  and  Beale  gave  me  fiv*e  hundred 
dollars  iu  gold  coin,  saying  that  was  half  of  what  money 
he  got.  From  this  place  we  came  a  short  distance  togeth- 
er to  a  fence,  when  Beale  left  me  and  came  on  homo.  I 
JiiicLthc  lence  down,  took  my  horse  through,  laid  it  up 
'ligain,  and  came  down  to  Dan  the  butcher's  slaughter 
house;  laid  another  fence  down  and  up,  and  went  into  the 
slaughter  house  to  find  something  fo  tie  the  money  up  in ; 
could  not  tindjany thing,  came  out,  took  the  lining  from  my 
coat  sleeve,  tied  the  money  up,  went  up  the  creek  a  short 
distance,  and  buried  the  money  by  an  *  oak 
stump.  I  then  got  my  horse,  came  down  and  crossed  the 
ford  above  the  foot  bridge,  an«l  went  to  the  stable,  put  my 
horse  away,  fed  him,  and  started  home.  I  found  Beale  at 
the  back  of  my  house  inquiring  for  soap  to  wash  with.  I 
went  into  my  house,  leit  my  gun,  got  some  soap  and  a 
wash  pan,  went  to  the  well,  got  sonve  water,  went  to  the 
bridge  of  Warner's  paint  shop,  where  they  take  wagons 
jif?  and  washed  there  together.  Then  IJeale  left  me,  and 
1  saw  no  more  of  him  until  the  next  day.  After  washing, 
I  went  into  the  house  and  went  to  bed.  There  was  noth- 
ing more  of  importance  until  my  arrest. 
^  1  had  no  idea  that  any  one  suspected  me  until  my  ar- 
rest. At  the  preliminary  trial  T  wished  to  make  a  full 
confession  of  the  murder,  but  Wiis  induced  not  to  confess 
by  my  attorneys,  who  said  that*  if  I  made  a  confession, 
fluch    was    the    excitement    among    the  people    tliat  a 


00  CONFESSION  OP  G;i:ORGE  BAKER. 

mob  would  r^fse  and  hang  me  before  I  could  get  out  of 
the  house  where  the  trial  was  being  held,  or  to  the  first 
sign-post  they  came  to.  Caton  to|d  me  that  there  would 
be  no  trouble  about  getting  clear ;  that  I  would  liave  to 
stay  in  jail  until  court  met  in  March,  when  I  would  come 
out  all  ri.s:ht.  The  first  time  my  attorneys  came  to  the 
jail  after  the  preliminary  trial,  Beale  made  a  confession  to 
them,  but  did  not  tell  it  correctly.  In  a  short  time,  Caton 
&  Curl  came  in  the  jail  again,  and  wanted  to  know  how 
much  money  I  had  got,  and  where  I  had  put  it.  I  refused 
to  tell  them  at  that  time.  Caton  said  they  would  be  ob- 
liged to  have  money  to  carry  on  the  suit  "Avith,  or  they 
never  could  clear  me.  I  still  refused  to  tell  them  about 
the  money.  Caton  &  Curl  came  back  in  a  few  daj^s  again, 
and  said  that  I  surely  had  money,  and  that  they  would 
have  to  have  it.  I  then  told  Caton  where  the  five  hundred 
dollars  Were  that  I  got  from  Beale.  They  then  left  the 
jail.  Caton  came  back  next  day  and  said  he  could  not 
find  the  money ;  that  he  would  have  to  have  new  direc- 
tions and  a  diagram  showing  where  the  money  was^,  which 
i  gave  him,  and  I  also  told  him  that  I  had  three  hundr.tl 
and  eighty  dollars  of  my  own  money  buried  in  my  wood- 
shed. He  then  said  that  there  w^ere  men  digging  up  my 
wood-shed  and  looking  for  money,  and  if  they  found  it, 
it  would  be  evidence  against  me.  I  told  Caton  that  if  he 
found  that  money  (three  hundred  and  eighty  dollars)  to 
give  my  wife  a  portion  of  it,  which  he  did  not  do.  The 
next  time  he  came  back  to  see  me,  I  asked  him  if  he  had 
found  the  money,  to  which  ho  made  an  affirmative  nod  of 
the  head,  and  took  me  into  my  cell  and  told  me  not  to  let 
Beale  know  anything  about  it.  [I  have  since  sent  the 
'  sheriff,  Dan  Delaney,  and  John  Davis  to  the  place  where 
the  money  was  buried,  and  they  found  it  as  1  told  them, 
but  the  money  had  been  taken  away.]  At  this  time  he  told 
me  that  he  would  go  to  Portland,  out  he  would  tell  the 
people  that  he  w^as  going  to  Yamhill ;  that  he  would  go 
by  way  of  French  Prairie,  and  hire  a  Frenchman  and  a 
half-breed  to  come  and  swear  that  they  saw  me  on  the  9th.* 
of  January  last,  late  in  the  evening,  drunk,  on  French 
Prairie.  In  a  short  time  after  this,  Caton  again  came  to 
the  jail  and  told  me  that  all  was  right ;  that  he  had  hired 


CONFESSION  OP  GEORGE  BAKER.  81 

a  Frenchman  and  half-breed  to  swear  for  me  ;  and  said 
that  there  was  no  trouble  in  hiring  witnesses  down  there  j 
that  he  could  have  hired  a  dozen  if  he  had  had  the  mon- 
ey ;  and  said  the  only  difficulty  now"  would  be  to  get  the 
Frencliman  and  half-breed  to  see  me  in  jail,  so  that  they 
would  recognize  me  in  court ;  and  if  they  could  not  get  to 
see  me  in  the  jail,  that  he  would  have  a  friend  of  inine  to 
point  me  out  to  them  in  the  court  house.  ^ 

I  never  knew  but  they  would  be.  there  and  swear  as 
Caton  said,  until  my  attorneys  said  they  would  rest.  I 
then  asked  Caton  where  the  two  witnesses,  that  he  got  on 
French  Prairie,^  were.  He  said  that  they  had  broken  into 
a  store  at  Fairfield,  and  he  was  afraid  the  prosecuting  at- 
torney would  recognize  them  and  impeach  their  evidence. 
Caton  and  Logan  told  me  all  the  while  never  to  make  a 
confession  ;  that  the  people  would  hang  me  and  my  attor- 
neys too  if  I  did.  I  told  them  that  there  was  no  chance 
to  get  clear,  and  that  I  would  fare  better  to  make  a  full 
confession,  and  throw  myself  upon  the  mercy  of  the  court. 
'^hjjw  said,  no:  that  tliey  would  get  me  oat  all  right;  that 
it  \(^s  not  me  the  people  were  after,  but  Beale. 

Some  tw*o  weeks  before  court  convened,  Beale  and  I 
were  separated.  I  was  put  up  stairs,  and  not  permitted  to 
talk  to  my  attornevs  privately ;  but  when  court  met,  Lo- 
gan got  an  order  from  the  court  to  see  me  privately,  and 
came  up  and  had  a  talk  with  me ;  said  Beale  had  been 
telling  him  that  he  had  got  some  thirty  thousand  dollars, 
and  wanted  to  know  if  Tknew  anything  about  it.  I  told 
him  I  did  not.  lie  asked  me  if  Beale  left  me  at  any  time 
on  the  road  home  from  Delaney's.  I  told  him  I  thought 
not ;  but  since,  upon  reflection,  I  remember  of  Beale  going  ■ 
thrpugh  Dutch  Adams'  field,  on  foot,  while  I  rode  around, 
an^  he  got  a  short  distance  behind  me  at  the  creek,  this 
side  of  V.  K.  Pringle'8,and  whistled  to  me  to  stop,  came  up 
and  told  me  I  was  riding  too  fast  for  him  to  keep  up.  He 
was  again  separated  frorn  me  a  short  distance  at  Davidson's 
meadow,' but  wiis  out  of  sight  only  a  few  moments. 

From  what  I  know  about  the  matter,  I  think  the  money 
the  attorneys  got  from  Jieale  was  Delaney's  money.  I  saw 
the  old  silver  dollar  that  Beale  speaks  of,  the  next  day  af- 
te^ljie  murder.     I  would  Irere  say  to  the  attorneys,  if  they 


/US' 

32  CONFESSION  01^  CI^OUGfi  BAKER. 

«'ot  the  five  hundred  dollars  that  I  told  then:  belonged  to 
i)elanej,  to  give  it  back  to  the  Delaney  boys,  as  it  is  justly 
theirs,  and  the  attornej^s  have  no  right  to  it.  And  I  am 
sure  Caton  as  good  as  told  me  he  had  got  the  nione3\  I 
also  thiuk  that  they  ought  to  give  the  money  the^^  got  from 
Beale  back  to  the  Delaney  boys,  notwithstanding  they  say 
that  Beale  told  them  it  was  his  own  money— which,  if  he 
did,  he  surely  was  mistaken,  or  did  it  for  some  other  pur- 
pose. What  Beale  says  now  about  the  money  ($1,400) 
must  be  true,  as  there  is  no  object  in  him  or  myself  getting 
into  an}'  altercation  with  our  attorneys.  It  would  surely- 
make  the  matter  worse  for  us  to  have  the  attorneys  say^ve  ' 
were  not  telling  the  truth,  and  we  cannot  tell  the  truth 
without  implicating  them  in  the  money  matter.  I  hold  no 
malice  against  my  attorneys  or  any  one  else.  If  my  attor- 
neys' days  were  numbered  as  mine  are,  they  might  think 
somewhat  as  I  do  about  refunding  tlie  money  to  the  Dela- 
ney boys» 

Right  here  I  wish  to  say  that  my  wife  is  entirely  innocent  of  knowing; 
anything  of.  or  having  anything  to  do  with,  the  murder  of  Delaney.  Slie 
knew  nothing  about  it  until  I  made  a  confession.  I  have  committed  a 
great  crime,  and  ought  to  suffer  the  penalty  of  the  law,  but  innocent per- 
gons  ought  not  to  suffer  for  the  crimes  of  guilty  ones. 

I  regard  my  trial  as  a  candid  and  impartial  one,  and  have  no  reflec- 
tion to  cast  upon  the  officers  of  the  court,  or  the  ywy,  or  witnesses,  ex- 
cept two  witnesses  on  the  part  of  the  prosecution,  who  were  mistaken  in 
their  testimony. 

In  conclusion,  I  will  sa;  that  my  name  is  George  Baker;  was  horn 
in  Ohio  ;  was  thirty-two  years  old  on  the  3d  of  July,  18li4.  My  life  has 
been  an  unsettled  one.  I  cme  to  Oregon  in  1852;  was  married  in 
1855,  and  now  have  tour  childfren — three  boys  and  one  girl^-all  living. 
I  have  never  committed  a  crime  of  great  magnitude  until  this  one;  and 
yet  I  have  not  been  a  Christian  man,  but  have  lived  an  irreligious  litV% 
sometimes  mdulging  in  such  vices  as  swearing,  drinking,  and  keei)ing 
bad  company,  and  but  for  my  indulgence  in  intoxicatin  ;  drinks  and  vis- 
iting the  dramshoj),  I  8ht)uld  never  have  committed  the  crime  tor  wl^ich 
I  have  got  to  die.  And  right  here  I  would  say  to  ail,  and  more  es- 
pecially to  the  young  men,  to  avoid  the  dram-diop,  bad  company,  and 
evil  practices,  if  you  would  avoid  the  consequences  growing  out  of  them. 

Since  ray  conviction,  I  have  been  reviewmg  my  life,  and  seeking  par- 
don for  my  wrong  doings,  and  hope  to  die  in  peace  with  God  and  man. 

I  winh  to  say  further  that  I  feel  especially  grateful  to  the  Sheriff  and 
his  wife  for  their  kindness  toward  me  since  my  arrest  and  imprisonment; 
and  also  thaiik  others  for  visiting,  counseling,  and  manifesting  intereet 
in  my  future  welfare.  /  .w 

I  now  commend  my  family,  friends,  and  myh'clf  to  God. 


m 


